Means for drying bark or other substances



Feb. 11, i930. A; H. WHITE L'Mpgw MEANS FOR DRYING BARK OR OTHER SUBSTANCES Original Filed March 1l, 1925 5 Sheeis-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY n IN VEN TOR. fW/aa/ Feb. 11, 1930., A, H. WHVTE MEANS 'FOR DRYING BARK 0R OTHER sUBsTANcEs Original Filed March 11, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INI/ETOR.

A TTORNEYS,

Feb. l, 1930. A, H, wHlTE 1,746,919

MEANS FOR DRYING BARK OR OTHER SUBSTANCES original Filed March 11, 1925 5 sheets-sheet s Hlllllllfl e HUM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNEY,

Feb. 11, 1930. A. H. WHITE MEANS FOR DRYING BARK OR OTHER SUBSTANCES Original Filed March l1, 1925 Feb. 11, 1930. A. H. wHlTE MEANS FOR DRYIG BARK OR'OTHER SUBSTANCES 5 shetsfsheet 5 original Filed March 11. 1925 [N l VENTO/i Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AHBROSAE E.' WHITE, Ol' BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MEANS FOR DRYING BARK OB OTHER SUBSTANCES Application led March 11, 1925, Serial No. 14,656. Renewed July 5, 1929.

This invention relates to a method of and means for the treatment of substances or materials to dry the same, and is designed more particularly for the treatment of bark to remove the water which the bark takes up when the latter is separated from the wood in preparing the wood for conversion into pulp in the manufacture of paper.

In accordance with myinvention the material to treated is positively advanced by and between traveling pressure units formed and mounted to subject the material in its travel toa sustained yielding pressure, and

the invention consists of the improved apparatus for subjecting the bark to the treatment-mentioned, which improvements will be fully described in the specification to follow, and the novel features thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

2o w In theaccompanying drawings:

l Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, 'of a mechanism embodying'my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional plan view of the machine on an enlarged scale, certain parts being broken away to' better show the construction.

Fig. 4. is a plan view partly in section of the frame-structure for supporting and guiding the upper pressure unit.

Fig.5 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 6 is a view in the nature orf a diagram, illustrating the operative actionof the pressurefunits on the material under treatment. F ig.'7 isa diagrammatic view showing howmotion isimparted to the operative parts of the machine. f

Fig. 8 is a f ra .A entary, plan, view ofthe driving shaft Aan driving sprockets thereon. Beferrin tothe drawings:

In accordance with my invention, the material A, .such as bard with itsl water content, is, aashf'wn in Fig. 6, fed from a hopper 'B into, tlie receiving end of a horizontal pressure space or .channel Cpbetween a lower traveling pressure unit AD and an upper travelin pressure unit E which latter unit is 5 yieldllgy pressed down-by nieansof springs vbars 4 and 5, and an upper longitudinal F, said units being so formed, as will be described in detail later on, that with the adjacent faces of said yunits traveling in the same direction, they will act to positively ad- Vance the bark, while'subjecting the same to a sustained yielding pressure. This will act to effectually squeeze out and remove the water, without injury to the bark, and will deliver the same, substantially free from water, from the discharge end of the pressure space, the e0 water freed from the bark being permitted to escape downwardly and drain olf through the lower unit.

The operative parts of the machine embodying the -above described essential :teatures, are mounted in and sustained by a main frame consisting of opposing frame members 2, each comprising a lower longitudinal frame bar 3, front and rear upright frame frame bar 6, the two opposing frame members being connected together lixedly in spaced relations by front and rear upper cross frame bars 7 and 8, as best shown in Figs. 1,

' 75 VThe two pressure units D and E before alluded to are mounted between the opposing frame members 2, and each consists of an endless chain of pressure members or shoes, the said .units bemgso mounted one above the other that the lower stretch of the upper chain will be spaced some distance above the upper stretch of the lower chain, therebyorming between them the pressure space or channel C before alluded to. v

The lower chain of'pressure shoes consists of a number of endlessparrying chains 9 extending longitudinally,Lof.` the machine parallel to each other in laterally spaced relations, the adjacent ends of the links of the individual chains bein pivotally4 mounted on and connected toget er .by cross rods 10, which, between the individualchains, have rollers 11 mounted thereon to support thechains in their travel. Transverse plates-pr. 9 bars12 are bolted or otherwise fixedly fastened to the llinks of the chains and. constitute-y the pressure members or shoes Abefore alluded to, which bars in the-present instance are roughened on their active faces, as by the X00 provision of spurs or spikes 12, which are adapted in the travel of the shoes, to take hold of the bark, and in cooperation with similar spurs or spikes on the pressure shoes of the upper' unit, advance the bark along the pressure channel.

The rollers l11 on the rods 10 travel on and around a series of longitudinally extending parallel tracks 14 formed, in the present instance, by a series of upright beams consisting each of a vertical web portion 15 andlaterally extending edge ilanges 15, said flanges constituting the tracks 14 above referred to. The said beams are ixedlyv connected together side by side in spaced relations, by the transverse connecting braces 15b, and the beams thus connected constitute a supporting frame-structure for sustaining and guiding the endless carrying chains 9 in their Cil travel.

At the ends of the beams the flanges 15a are curved as shown so as to guide the chains around the ends of the frame-structure, and the latter is mounted xedly between the opposing frame members 2 by means of front and rear horizontal y'axles 16 journaled in bearings in the ends of the beams and extending through and supported in bearing openings in the front and rear frame bars 4 and `5 near the base of the same. Wheels 17 are fixed to said axles between the outer sides of the outer beams and the inner sides of the frame bars 4 and 5, and these wheels are provided in their peripheries with notches 19, in which the ends of the rods 10 of the are supported and guided by a frame-struc-l ture similar in detailed form and construction to that ust described in connection with the lower pressure unit, and consistin of a series of beams 24 provided with edge anges 25 constituting guiding tracks for the rollers 22. Front and rear horizontal axles 26 are-journaled in bearings in lthe ends of the beams, and wheels 27 are mounted ixedlyon said axles at the,oi1ter sides of the ,outer beams, and are formed in their peripheries,

similar to the wheels I7, with notches toreceive the ends of the rods 21, so that when the wheels 27' at the'front end of the machine are rotated in the manner to be presently d escribed, the .chaino pressure shoeslwlll at' its lower sidebe caused to travel rearwardly.

This supporting frame-structure for the upa limited vertical movement,'and this for the purpose of enabling the chain of pressure shoes to act with a yielding downward pressure on the material or bark supported by k.the upper. stretch of the lower chain; To effect this object, the axles 26 are mounted in bearing boxes 28 movable vertically in guiding slots 29 formed in the frame bars 4 and 5 near .their upper ends, the downward movement of the bearing boxes in the slots being limited by adjustable stop screws 30 at the `bottom of the slots. Ata number of points in the length of the supporting' frame-structure, the outer beams thereof have fixed to them outwardly extending studs 31 carrying on their outer ends, blocks or slides 32 movable vertically in guiding slots in yoke frames 33 pivoted at their lower ends on studs 33a extending outwardly from the outerbeams of the lower frame-structure. The slides 32 are acted on by the springs F before alluded to which bear at their ylower ends against the upper sides ofl the blocks and at their upper ends against heads 34 on the lower ends of screws 35 threaded' in the upper ends of the yokes.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the supporting frame-structure for the upper chain of pressure shoes, is capable of a relative vertical movement in the mainframe, and is ressed down with a yielding pressure, the egree'of which may be varied by the adjustment of the springs F to meet the varying conditions encountered in practice; and consequently the chain of pressure shoes supported by said framestructure is capable of like vertical movement, and will act with a-yielding pressure on the bark as it is advanced along the pressure space in the travel of the chains.

The sides of the pressure space C are closed to prevent the lateral escape of the bark, by means of opposing upper plates 36 fixed to and movable up and down with the upper su-porting frame-structure, and lower opposing plates 37 xedto the lower support- 'ing' frame-structure, the adjacent edges of said plates terminating a short distance from each other and leaving an open space between them. This space is bridged and closed by plates 38 adjustably connected tothe upper ends of the plates 37, and bearing against the outer sides of the lower ends of the plates 36, all as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Due to this construction and arrangement of the parts, the opposing upper and lower plates will slide on each other in the up and downmovements of the upper chain of' pressure shoes, and the plates 38 may be adjusted vertically to meet thevarying conditions enr' countered in practice with respectto the thickness of the pressure space.

ing rearwardly.

The lower chain of pressure shoes is slightly longer than the upper chain so that it will project a short distance beyond the upper chain at the front of the machine, thereby providing a receiving surface 39 at the end of the lower chain onto which the bark or the material to`be treated, may be fed from the hopper B before alluded to, which ho per as shown in Fig. 1 discharges onto sai .receiving surface.

In order to break up any lumps or masses of the barkin the hopper, and to insure its uniform feed to the pressure space between the chains, an agitating and feeding member in the form of a rotary spiked roller 40 fixed to an axle 41a is j ournaled in the hopper; and the bottom of the hopper is formed with a roughened or spiked section or plate 41 pressed upwardly by springs 42, which section'in cooperation with the roller, will cause the bark to be separated and delivered to the pressure space in the most favorable condition for effective action.' i

Motion is imparted `to the operative parts of the machine, in the present instance, from a short drive shaft 43 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, mounted in bearings 44 on the main fixed to it a driving pulley 45 receiving motion from a suitablesourcel of power. The shaft carries an inner sprocket wheel 46 and an outer sprocket wheel 47; and a sprocket chain 48 passes around the sprocket wheel 46 and around a sprocket wheel 49 fixed on the end of the front axle 26 at the outer side of the front frame bar 4; whereby when the driving shaft is rotated lin the direction indicated by-the arrow in Fig. 7, rotary motion and around a sprocket wheel 57 fixed to the proj e'cting end of the axle 40 of the roller 40. A In thevoperation ofthe machine, with the parts driven as described, the bark is fed from the hopper by the action of the roller ,40'in cooperation with the spring pressed plate 41, onto the projecting end of the lower chain of pressure shoes, which in its travel rearwardly will carry the bark beneath the u per chain and thus enter it into the receiving end of the pressure channel. I n the continued feeding action of the roller 40, and aslthe chains of pressure shoes travel rearwardly, the bark will be carried along the pressure channel, while being subjected to a pressing and squeezing action by the'upper chain of pressure shoes, which squeezing action on the4 bark is continued and sustained in the travel of the bark throughout the length of the pressure channel. Asa result of this action, the water will be squeezed out of the mass of bark, and the latter "will issue from the discharge'end-of the pressure space in substantially dry condition, whence it will be delivered by the lower chain of pressure shoes onto a conveyor 58 by whichiit will be `carried from the machine. frame at* its rear end, the said shaft having Y It will .be understood that in the foregoing operation, the mass of bark'between the adjacent stretches of the two chains is of such thickness that the sliding boxes 28 on the ends of the axles 26 will be sustained free of the stop screws 30, so that the upper chain of pressurel shoes will operate with a floating action, while being pressed down yieldingly by the action of the springs F.

Further it will be understood that the degrec of pressure with which the chain of will be imparted to the front wheels 27, and pressure shoes acts, may be adjusted and va-l the upper chainI of pressure shoes will be driven with its lower stretch traveling rearwardly. A sprocket chain 50 passes around the outer sprocket wheel 47 on the drive shaft and varound a sprocket wheel 51 mounted on a stud 52 projecting outwardly from the side frame bar 4, and this sprocket wheel has fixed to it a spur gear 53 meshin with a spur gear 54 ixedfon the end of t e front axle 16,

wherebythe wheels 17 on said axle will bev rotated, andthe lower chain of pressure shoes will be driven with its upper stretch travel- The relative sizes of the sprocketgwheels 49 and 51 are such that the upper chain of pressure shoes will be driven at a higher rate of speed than that of the lower chain, and this 1n order that the upper pressure shoes will act with a dragging effect on the bark supported by and advancing with the lower pressure shoes, and will thus tend to prevent the mass of bark from packing as it is carried rearwardly.

The spiked roller 4() before alluded to is driven by means of a sprocket chain 55 which passes around asprocket wheel 56 on the axle 26 at the inner side of the sprocket wheel 49,

ried by the adjustment of the screws 35; and that by placing the springs F toward the los rear end of the chain under a greater tension than the others, the chain of pressure shoes may be caused to 4act on the bark with increasing pressure as the delivery end of the pressure space is approached.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. In a machine of the type described, the combination of a main frame, a lower endless chain `of pressure members mounted therein, an u per supporting frame structure,`bearing locks on the opposite sides of said structure at its opposite ends movable up and down in guides in the main frame, adjustable stops mounted on the main frame' and supporting said bearing blocks, an uppe chains to cause their adjacent stretches to travel in the same direction.

2. In a machine of the type described, the combination of a frame provided with vers tical guide slots, a lower supporting framef structure mounted in said frame, an endless chain of pressure members supportedby and traveling around said frame-structure, an upper supporting frame-structure, bearing I lo blocks thereon sliding in the guiding slots in the frame, an upper endless chain of pressure members supported by and traveling around said upper frame-structure, yokes anchored to the lower frame-structure and ex- 15 tending upwardly at the sides of the upper frame-structure, bearing blocks sliding vertically in said yokes and connected to the sides of the upper frame-structure, springs sustained by said yokes and bearing on said m blocks', and means for driving the chains to cause their adjacent stretches to travel in the same direction. 3. In a machine of the type described, the combination of a frame provided with verti- ,5 cal guide slots, a lowen supporting framestructure mounted in said frame, an endless chain of pressure members supported by and traveling around said frame-structure, an upper supporting frame-structure, bearing 30 blocks thereon sliding in the guiding slots in the frame, an upper endless chain of pressure members supported by and traveling around said upper frame-structure, yokes anchored to the lower framestructureand extending as upwardly at the sides of the upper framestructure, bearing blocks sliding vertically in said yokes and connected to the sides ofthe upper-frame-structure, springs sustained by said yokes and bearing/on said blocks, means 40 for adjusting said springs independently of each other, and means for driving the chains to cause their adjacentstretches to travel in the same direction.

In testimony whereof, I have aixed my 45 signature hereto.

AMBROSE H. WHITE. 

